Job 32 16

Job 32:16 kjv

When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more;)

Job 32:16 nkjv

And I have waited, because they did not speak, Because they stood still and answered no more.

Job 32:16 niv

Must I wait, now that they are silent, now that they stand there with no reply?

Job 32:16 esv

And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?

Job 32:16 nlt

Should I continue to wait, now that you are silent?
Must I also remain silent?

Job 32 verses

Job 32 16 Meaning

Job 32:16 marks a pivotal moment in the Book of Job, where Elihu, a younger participant who has patiently listened to the long debate, expresses his justification for finally speaking. The verse conveys that he meticulously waited for the older men—Job and his three friends—to finish their discourse. Their eventual silence, their complete inability to offer further arguments or responses, served as the clear signal for Elihu to break his own silence. This act demonstrates his reverence for the elders while simultaneously highlighting their intellectual and spiritual exhaustion, opening the way for his divinely-inspired contribution.

Job 32 16 Context

Job 32:16 falls at a critical juncture in the book of Job, marking the beginning of Elihu's discourse. For 29 chapters, Job and his three friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar) have engaged in an intricate and repetitive debate about Job's suffering, divine justice, and the nature of God. Elihu, younger and initially respectful, has been listening intently throughout this lengthy exchange (Job 32:4, 11). The immediate context shows his rising anger not only at Job's self-righteousness but more intensely at the friends' failure to provide a conclusive answer or convict Job (Job 32:2-3). By verse 16, Elihu's patience has reached its limit; the three friends have clearly exhausted their arguments and can "answer no more," leaving a vacuum of wisdom. This silence of the elders creates the perfect, justified opening for Elihu, whom the Spirit of God compels to speak and offer a fresh perspective that transcends the limited understanding of the older men. Historically and culturally, profound respect for elders was paramount, making Elihu's delayed intervention a significant act that needed careful justification, as presented in verses 6-12 and reaffirmed in verse 16.

Job 32 16 Word analysis

• And I had waited: This phrase sets the tone of Elihu's patient, observant demeanor.
  • I had waited: (וְחִכִּיתִי v'ḥikiti) - The root verb is חָכָה (chaká), meaning "to wait, to hope, to expect, to long for." It conveys a deliberate, prolonged period of silent anticipation rather than an abrupt interjection. Elihu's act of waiting underscores his respect for the customary order where elders speak first, but it also highlights his deep internal burden to contribute when their words prove insufficient. This term suggests more than just 'listening'—it implies 'waiting for a conclusion or a proper time.'
• but they spake not: Their failure to continue the conversation.
  • they spake not: (לֹא דִּבֵּרוּ lo dibbərú) - The verb is דִּבֵּר (dibbēr), "to speak, to declare, to converse." The negative "not" (לֹא lo) emphasizes the absolute cessation of their dialogue. This signifies not just quietness, but their complete inability to offer further arguments, refutations, or explanations to Job's plight. Their intellectual well had run dry.
• but stood still: Indicates a posture of cessation and resignation.
  • stood still: (וְעָמְדוּ və'ām'dû) - The verb עָמַד (ʻamád) means "to stand, to remain, to stop." Here, it portrays a static state, an end to their dynamic participation in the debate. They are at an impasse, motionless, indicating their surrender or exhaustion from the intense exchange. This is a visual representation of their verbal failure.
• answered no more: Confirms the finality of their silence.
  • answered no more: (לֹא־עוֹד הֵשִׁיבוּ lo-'od heshivu) - This uses הֵשִׁיב (heshiv), "to answer, to return, to reply," combined with עוֹד (ʻōd), meaning "still, yet, again, no more." The repetition of the negative (implied by "no more") emphasizes the absolute finality of their inability to respond. This confirms their intellectual defeat and marks the dramatic close of their segment in the dialogue.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And I had waited, but they spake not": This initial pairing establishes Elihu's respect and patience, contrasting it with the friends' subsequent verbal failure. It underlines his adherence to protocol but foreshadows his upcoming intervention due to their silence.
• "but stood still, and answered no more": This concluding phrase solidifies the complete cessation of the friends' contributions. "Stood still" conveys physical or intellectual immobility, while "answered no more" emphasizes the definitive end of their verbal capacity to engage in the debate. This four-part progression vividly paints a picture of silence born of intellectual bankruptcy, creating Elihu's opening.

Job 32 16 Bonus section

Elihu's entry marks a significant shift in the dialogue. Until this point, the debate largely revolves around traditional wisdom theology and the retribution principle (suffering indicates sin). Elihu, however, hints at a deeper, more profound understanding of God's ways (Job 33:14-30), particularly His use of suffering for purification and instruction. His "spirit" (Job 32:8) implies a wisdom derived not from accumulated age but from direct inspiration or insight from God, presenting a polemic against the sole reliance on human experience. He acts as a divinely-appointed bridge figure, preparing Job and the audience for God's majestic appearance, introducing themes that transcend the limitations of the earlier arguments.

Job 32 16 Commentary

Job 32:16 is Elihu's explicit justification for finally speaking, a critical point for a younger man to interject in a culture that revered age. He emphasizes his prolonged patience, waiting until the older debaters were not only silent but had evidently run out of arguments. The phrase "spake not, but stood still, and answered no more" highlights the profound silence born of intellectual exhaustion, not mere politeness. This was not a pause for thought, but a definitive cessation, indicating their inability to bring clarity or resolution. Elihu's detailed account of his waiting underscores his moral uprightness and adherence to social customs, allowing him to present his coming discourse not as impertinence, but as a divinely-compelled response to a void in wisdom. His intervention sets the stage for a new theological perspective that focuses on God's disciplinary love and sovereignty, paving the way for God's own direct address to Job later in the book.